Chinese shipping employee shot dead in Pakistan’s Karachi

In December, China had warned its nationals in Pakistan of plans for imminent attacks on Chinese targets.

A Pakistan national flag flies alongside a Chinese national flag in Beijing.(Reuters File Photo)

A Chinese man working with a shipping company in Pakistan was shot dead on Monday in what police described as a targeted attack in Karachi, police and hospital officials said.

While there was no claim of responsibility and the motive was not immediately clear, China in December warned its nationals in Pakistan of plans for imminent attacks on Chinese targets there.

Chinese presence is growing in Pakistan as Beijing has pledged $57 billion for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a flagship “Belt and Road” project that first focused on Chinese firms building roads and power stations but is now expanding to include setting up industries.

The man, identified as Chen Zhu, 45, was in his car when he was attacked in an upmarket area of the port city of Karachi.

At least 10 shots were fired at the car, and Chen suffered a single bullet wound in the head, police said.